Disability Living Allowance for Children Under Sixteen

If you have a child or children under sixteen who have a physical or mental disability and thus require help with personal care or need assistance getting around, perhaps because they have difficulties walking, you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance for children under sixteen. Essentially this benefit works the same way that Disability Living Allowance (see Disability Living Allowance) does, except that you must claim it using a different form because you are claiming on behalf of your child.

The two components for care and mobility can be awarded separately or together, and the different rates at which these components are paid match the rates for Disability Living Allowance for over sixteens. For more details as to how Disability Living Allowance for children under sixteen is calculated, how much you can receive and who can claim, see the article on Disability Living Allowance.

To claim Disability Living Allowance for a child or children under sixteen, you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or call the Benefit Enquiry Line for assistance on 0800 88 22 00. If you are eligible to receive the benefit it will be paid by direct debit into an account that you nominate, unless you ask for it to be paid in a different way. You must keep the benefits service informed of any changes to your circumstances, or those of the child or children for whom you are claiming the Allowance, as soon as possible. This enables the benefits service to ensure that you are always receiving the money to which you are entitled.